Portable electric hand-lamp.



EAT-EN-TED MAY 2A, w04i E. STEIN. PORTABLE ELECTRIC HAND LAME.4

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1903. N0 MODEL.

:nag N onms PETERS co, Fumo-Uwe., wAsmNnoN. n.c.

Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT Orifice.

GEORGE STEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC HAND-LAMP.

SPECIFICATION Yforming part of Letters Patent No.` 760,657, dated May 24, 1904. Application filed July 18, 1903. SerialNo. 166,130. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, it nfl/Ly concern:

My invention relates to portable electricv hand-lamps, and more particularly to that class thereof adapted to be used to produce an intermittent light.

The object of the invention is to provide a portable electric hand-lamp of this character wherein the various parts will be so-assembled as to produce a neat and compact article, wherein the circuit will be normally open, and wherein the switch or circuit-closer will be so constructed and arrangedas to prevent the accidental closing of the circuit, as when a lamp or lamps are stored or packed for shipment or not in use.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly Vpointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a portable electric hand-lamp embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof,showing the battery, the spring'in the closure-cap, the lamp, and the lens in elevation.

Like letters refer to like parts in both of the views.

In the accompanying drawings, a indicates an outer casing, preferably tubular in form and composed of fiber or some equivalent insulating material. About each end of this tube a is riveted or otherwise permanently secured a metallic band b and c, respectively, each provided with exterior screw-threads. These bands are electrically connected in a manner to be hereinafter described and serve, respectively, as a means for securing a metallic reflector d and a bulls-eye lens e in one end of this casing c and for confining a removable primary or secondary battery f in the other end thereof. The reiiector l is preferably of the parabolic type having an outwardly-flared flange d about the mouth thereof. The dimensions of the body of this reflector are such as to permit it to pass freely within the open end of the casing a until the flange d rests upon the outer and exposed edge of the ring b in a manner to insure a good base for soldering these parts together and also` to insure a good electrical connection between said band and said reflector. The base of the reiiector is provided with an integral screwthreaded neck or lamp-socket @Kopen at both ends and adapted to receive the terminal plug g of an incandescent electric lamp g of ordinary and well-known construction and to permit the terminal butt g2 thereof to be thrust into the outer casing a behind said reflector.

To provide for the convenient insertion, removal, and replacement of the lamp g and to increase theefciency of the lamp and reiiector, as well as to protect said lamp, the lens e is held in place to'close the mouth of the reiiector by means of ascreW-threaded ring c', having an inwardly-turned flange c, which engages the lens and which is' adapted to engage the screwthreads on the band I), which are provided for that purpose. The opposite or rear end of the casing a is closed by means of a metallic closurecap 71 held in place by and electrically connected with the band c byv means of screw-threads thereon. A spring L, carried by the cap t, is permanently attached thereto in a manner to have goed electrical contact therewith. The batteryf is disposed within the outer casing between the said cap 7L and the refiector CZ, the opposite poles thereof being, respectively, in electrical contact with the butt g2 of the lamp g and the spring L, which serves to maintain it in such contact, as well as to form a part of the electrical circuit. The battery may be of any desired construction and arrangement, having an insulating-envelop therefor.

The electrical connection between the bands and c consists of aconducting wire or strip 7c, one end-of which is permanently attached to the band c by being placed in intimate surface contact therewith and soldered thereto or otherwise held in such contact, an escutcheon l, riveted to the outside of said casing, to which the other end of said conducting wire or strip 7c IOO is elcctricall y connected, a second conducting wire orstrip m, one end of whichis electrically connected to the band in the same mann er employed to establish electrical connection between the band c and wire or strip and the other end ot' which is electrically connected with a stud or button a1., adjacent to the escutcheon Z, and a switch n, carried by the said escutchcon and adapted to engage the stud or button n to close the circuit. The switch 0 comprises a spring-tongue d, normally out of contact with the stud or button a and preferably provided with an enlarged portion to increase the bearing-surface, and thus facilitate its use. lthas been found that a spring'- tong'ue as ordinarily employed in an electrical switch used in this and similar relations is so exposed that in case of a weight being' inadvertentl y placed thereon, even it' it were merely the result of laying' the lamp down with the switch beneath, it is pressed down upon the stud or button w, and the circuit being' thus closed the battery energy is wasted and the lamp burned out, even if the entire battery is not exhausted. To prevent this accidental closing of the circuit, I provide an elevated guard adjacent to the spring-tongue o, which serves to hold this tongue out of contact with adjoining objects. rIhis guard is of such height and is placed in such a relation to the spring-tongue d that one end of the entire lamp is raised sufliciently to prevent the said tongue from coming in contact with any flat or substantially Hat surfaces upon which it rests or with which it contacts. Preferably this guard takes the form of a loop 02, made integral with the spring tongue o and arranged between it and the rivets, securing the whole to the escutchcon l. Both ends of this loop bear lirmly against said escutchcon, and all spring action is beyond this loop. The height of the loopis such thata straight line drawn therefrom to any point on the band would not touch the spring-tongue o.

The arrangement heretofore described admits ot' a convenient assembling of parts. The switch o is first mounted on the escutchcon Z, and the wires and m are respectively attached to said escutchcon and button or stud a and then passed through holes in the casing a provided for this purpose, and the said escutchcon and stud are then secured to said outer casing. rlhe free ends of said conducting wires or strips are then extended along the inside of this casing to the exposed ends thereof, where they are respectively attached to the bands c and b, as described. These bands are thereafter secured in position on said outer casing a, preferably by means of rivets. The reflector (Z is then slipped in the end of the casing, and the flange el is soldered to the outer edge or' the band The manner oli' applying the remaining parts is apparent. rIhe electrical conditions present are also seit'- evident and require no detailed explanation.

The employment ot the screw-tlu'eaded band 7) and ring fi greatly facilitates the replacement ot' a burned-out lamp and also compensates for the irregularity in the thickness of commercial lenses. The attachment ot' the closure-cap it, with its spring t, by means ot' screw-threads, also admits or' the regulation ot' the tension of the said spring, and hence the pressure upon the battery and the part in which the opposite pole thereof is in contact. This screw-tlu'eaded joint also permits the use of batteries which vary somewhat in their length under exactly similar conditions. The arrangement oi' the springtongue n and guard o serves to etfectually prevent the accidental closing of the circuit when lamps are in stock, packed for shipment, or when lying around when not in use.

Itis not my intention to limit my invention to the precise details of construction as herein shown and described, as it is apparent that there may be many variations in the manner of combining' the various elements necessarily entering' into the` manufacture of such a lamp without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

l. In a portable electric hand-lamp, the cornbination of an outer easing, a contained battery, a translating device carried by said casing, electrical connections between the opposite poles oli' said battery and the respective terminals of said translating device including therein a normally open circuit-closer arranged exteriorly et said casing, comprising a fixed contact, a depressible tongue, and an elevated guard adjacent to said circuit-closer whereby pressure on said tong'ue from contact with adjoining objects is prevented.

2. In a portable electric hand-lamp, the combination ot' an outer casing, a contained battery, a translating' device carried by said casing and electrical connections between the opposite poles of said battery and the respective terminals of said translating device including a normally open circuit-closer arranged exteriorly olI said casing comprising a springtongue secured to said casing', a loop integral therewith arranged between said tongue and its securing means and ot' a height to prevent pressure on said tongue from adjoining' objects and a button or stud disposed adjacent to said spring-tongue whereby the circuit may be closed.

8. In aportable electric hand-lamp, the combination ot' an outer easing, a contained battery, a metallic reflector carried within one end of said easing, a screw-threaded metallic band about the end of said casing, a lens closing the mouth of said reflector, a screwthreaded ring adapted to removably secure said lens in position, an electric lamp mounted in said reflector, the butt of said lamp having IOO TIO

IZO

ISO

electrical contact with one pole of said battery, a screw-threaded metallic band about the other end of said casing, a metallic closure-cap removably connected to said lastmentioned band, a spring carried by said cap and acting upon and having electrical Contact with the other pole of said battery, an escutcheon mounted on the outside of said casing, a normally open circuit-closer arranged exteriorly'of said casing comprising a springtongue secured to said escutcheon a loop integral therewith arranged between said tongue and its securing means and of a height to prevent pressure on said tongue from contact with adjoining objects, a button or stud disposed adjacent to said spring-tongue whereby the circuit may be closed and conducting strips or wires connected with said bands and said escutcheon and said button or stud respectively.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aHiXed my signature, this 18th day of April, 1903, in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE STEIN.

Witnesses:

E. T. WENTWORTH, GEORGE P. BRECKENRIDGE. 

